When Coralie worked with Bert

The always-fabulous Coralie Wood worked with Bert Newton when she was 13 and he was not much older. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

The State funeral for TV icon Bert Newton will be held on Friday at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne. He died on October 30 aged 83.

The service and lead-up to it will be broadcast on Channel 9 and 9Now from 9.30am. Prime7 will broadcast from 9.15am, perhaps just to niggle Channel 9, Newton's traditional home.

Watching the coverage with a heavy heart will be Canberra's own icon Coralie Wood who was just 13 when she was a regular on Newton's radio children's program Peter's Pals. Newton was not much older than her.

"It was 1000 years ago," she said.

"I was the little young comedian. I did funny little sketches with him.

"Patti Newton, she wasn't married to him at the time, used to tap-dance on the show. We had a board and she'd tap dance on the radio show."

Coralie, who went on to become publicist to the stars, said Bert's passing was very sad.

"He was an institution wasn't he? I mean we all loved him," she said